I know you guys will be nominating me for the dumass award but I thought I would share anyway.

Was visiting the GF 200 miles north of here. Left at 1:30 am, damp roads and light drizzle. Noticed a little squirellyness after the first couple hours. The bike was bouncing as it does on certain bad roads that have those close rhythmic waves in them. This was abit more violent though....felt different ...I noticed my headlight beam flashing on the reflective road signs...Don't usually see that. Also, could feel th ebike go just a tiny bit sideways just crossing over the seem in the road. Could the paint line be that slippery.....or is my tire so squared off now that it is grabbing the slightest irregularity in the road.

Stopped on an off ramp to have a look just in case. Put my flashers on...

Sure enough. The tire is soft. I went to the service station hopefully to get some air in it but they were closed. Tire was hot and smelled like rubber. After the tire cooled down a minute, it was so soft it punched right in under my hand. Figured I would chance it. It held up for 50 miles or more before I stopped to have a look. Back on the road.

Next station was open. Was able to get 32 psi in her using the little toy they call a air pump. Bought a roll of quarters and planned to stop often.

Wish I would have gassed up. Tire went low again in 50 miles. Also gas dropping quick. Low fuel indicator came on. Next service station F*CK, it's closed! How screwed am I now??? Still 75 miles from home!! Went to other station in that town and they are closed but found an air pump at a car wash that had some air left in the tank or thank God perhaps they left the compressor running all night. Pumped that baby up to 50 and hit the roiad again running on fumes. Next station was actually 25-30 miles from home. Filled her up and the tire was still up. Off I went. Tire going soft by the time I rolled into the drive.....had to get off and push the last 20 feet. Can see nothing stuck in the tire. Must have been a tiny puncture where the object did not get stuck in the hole.

THANK YOU, GOD!!

Not that I recommend this but seems like the heat that gets generated by the tire actually keeps the tire inflated with what little air you got in the tireafter it runs down to almost zip. You can go quite a distance on a flat. Hope to hell my rim is ok. I bet it is fine....felt no sharp blows. Would never have tried this on a front tire flat.

Also, how far can you go on a low fuel indicator again?? I was planning on a max of 40 miles.

You're nominated for "one of the luckiest guys of today" award. I'm staying away from that other one...

hope you got lucky in other ways <grin>. Go buy a lotto ticket. Now.

Had to ride on a flat before, now I carry tyre plugs and co2 canisters, $25 for small roll up bag with plugs and canisters

So True!! Well worth saying it twice, motero! Gonna look at that for future. In fact, I sasw a tire plug kit at the station I stopped at. Looked like a puncture hole probe with a slot eye at the tip you thread the plug fiber through. The whole thing looked a bit complicated to me. For one thing, I woulda had to find the hole which was NOT obvious as it usually is with a nail head or some other foreign object sticking out. Good thing to have if you know how to use it, ythough.....and I have a perfect practice tire sitting out on the bike, now don't I???

* Last updated by: Rook on 9/13/2012 @ 2:50 PM *

I saw some of that canned "fix a flat" stuff. Was gonna use it but it said NOT FOR USE ON VEHICALS WITH LESS THAN 4 WHEELS. What do you suppose was up with that??? They do not want liability in case it lets go on a bike I suppose. Anyone ever use that stuff on a motorcycle tire?? Sure would have been safer than what I did.

Had a flat one time rolling off a ferry in wales, stopped in garage and asked for a loan of a pliers tonpull out big nail, guy asked what I was gonna do and how far I had to go, I was heading for amoto gp race in barcelona, the guy didnt want me to plug it, and didnt want to loan me the pliers, I insisted, he didnt want to have any responcibility for any accident, I rode 4,000 miles. Around spain and stopped off at the garage to show him plug still in place on my way home, I know they aint recommended, but I have never had an issue with them, yes biggest problem is finding the hole

After pulling the stunt I did last night...I have NO problem riding out a tire on a plug. I understand there is an internal plug. That is what I would use and feel most comfortable with. I have heard of other people using plugged tires though. For a nearly new tire, definitely worth it IMHO.

"Stunt"...LOL...LMAO!!!!Wheeeeeee!!!!!!

Get the kit Rook...the one Motero's talkin about...just 'in case'

"Stunt"....Classic baby!

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 9/13/2012 @ 8:55 PM *

I have no problem ridding on a plugged tire! And fix-a-flat leaks out of the hole in the tire until it seals the hole and that would compromise grip big time!!!!!!!!! Glad your safe Rook

Good yall are ok. Amazing what we can get away with when we're oblivious. Well I guess you were not for the whole time.

I was told fix a flat can cause localized heat at high speed. Course, could be a bunch of bull sh#@. I would be more worried about the stuff on contact patch before sealing the hole. I know my friend hates the stuff. He managed a tire shop, and said the stuff is a bitch to clean off any areas they need to repair.

fix-a-flat leaks out of the hole in the tire until it seals the hole and that would compromise grip big time!!!!!!!!!

I would be more worried about the stuff on contact patch before sealing the hole.....the stuff is a bitch to clean off any areas they need to repair.

Thanks...I was about to go out and buy a can to experiment on the flat I have now but maybe I will just get that nifty lil plug kit motero has pictured above.

This really hits home when I think about how many flats I have had. Out of aprox 6 tires on the 14, I have gotten three flats. With those odds it doesn't make sense to go far from home without knowing how to fix a tire on the road.

You sir are very lucky

I have to carry a tire plug / CO2 kit for my Concours 14.

I cannot use the tire sealant cans because they gum up and destroy the tire pressure sensors inside the wheels.

Sorry to hear that Buddy but you made it home safe I just read your post after writing my own and I see pushing is a new trend theese days.

I have used fix a flat on a ZRX with a screw in the tire and made it home but I left the screw in. If I go for an extended ride I pull the plug kit and pump out of the beemer and throw it on what ever bike I am on.

I have worm plugs and nipple plugs but choice is the worm plug. Easier to use and never a problem plus after you take a tire off and look at the plug they are kinda stuck to the inside and not coming out.

* Last updated by: lytnin on 9/16/2012 @ 6:53 PM *

Thanks, all. Worm Plugs, it shall be!! Thanks lytnin!

Yeah what Motero posted is Kosher, funny I ordered this 1 week prior to your incident. It fits in my sargeant seat stash box!

Even come with laminated instructions!

* Last updated by: dragking on 9/17/2012 @ 5:46 PM *

thanks Dragking. I am getting some kind of plug kit to carry along ....that is a little more $$$ than I would have guessed but I am sure it is the CO2 that you are paying for. WOrth it if you are not right by an air pump. I wonder how well a bicycle tire pump would work on a MC tire?? Prolly be a bit of effort but I think it would do the trick at least good enough to get to an air pump at a station.

I wonder how well a bicycle tire pump would work on a MC tire??